What Do We Do During Lent, Anyway?

 What do we do during Lent, anyway?

For forty days Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness, and for forty days each year, tradition invites us to embrace reflection and prayer…and perhaps fasting or letting go of something.

The history of Lent is a Catholic one dating back to 325 AD, and at that time focus was on fasting.  After the reformation, many Protestants ignored Lent completely, especially fasting, but Lent has recently seen something of a revival.  Many look upon it simply as a way to prepare their hearts to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.  The practice of giving up something has remained strong.

Some people might give up chocolate or coffee for lent, while others might let go of some other habit or way of being that has taken over their lives in an unhealthy way.

Rev. Donna shared a poem with me this week.  It speaks of what we might consider this Lent, and just as importantly what we don’t need to do.  And who helps us?  Jesus, of course.  The one who rescues us, who saves us, who shines his light on us and helps us to see the way…  the one who loves us.

Lent is when we go downstairs,

down into the basement of our souls,

into the dark, dingy, dirty places,

and clear out the junk we need to get rid of.

In Lent we don't need to beat ourselves up.

We need to lighten our load,

bag up those fears and desires

that are leaking all over everything,

take our guilt and shame out to the curb.

It's not easy to lay our hands on broken things,

to look deep into the gummed up works.

That's why Jesus shines with his light,

shines so we can see our way down into the dark,

see to lift up the junk and hand it over,

so he can haul it out into the light

of the dumpster.

The light Jesus shines is good with dark places,

so we know even from the deepest hole down there

we'll come out. The light will lead us. We'll be OK.

Mucking around down there we get dirty,

and we come up with grime on our hands

and ashes on our foreheads for everybody to see.

But we're free of all that blame and disappointment.

And the darkest, deepest cellar hole

becomes an empty tomb.

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead before bed on Saturday!  You may also want to read a passage for our first Sunday of Lent:

Joel 2.12-14  NRSV

Yet even now, says the Lord,

    return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

    rend your hearts and not your clothing.

Return to the Lord your God,

    for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,

    and relenting from punishment.

In Christ’s Bountiful Love,

Susan

Image:  Freepik

Poem:  Lent by Steve Garnaas-Holmes